Eaves trough construction



Sept. 16, 1958 J. H. TEUTSCH EAVES TROUGH CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 25,1954 INVENTOR.

JOHN H. TEUTSCH il WM ATTORNEYS United States Patent EAVES TROUGHCONSTRUCTION John H. Teutsch, St. Clair Shores, Mich. ApplicationDecember 23, 1954, Serial No. 477,265 6 Claims. (Cl. 108-28) Theinvention relates to eaves troughs and has for its object the obtainingof a construction which is normally closed against accumulation ofleaves or other material but which will automatically open to receivedrainage.

It is a further object to obtain a construction which can bemanufactured at low cost and is siutable for use in connection with anytype of drainage surface.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction ashereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through the trough and covering means thereforlocated in operative relation to a roof or other drainage surface.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of Fig. 1.

Eaves troughs usually form a trap for leaves and other refuse materialcarried in suspension by air currents so that frequently they are in nocondition to receive and discharge drainage water. To avoid thiscondition I have devised a construction which is normally covered toexclude such debris but is nevertheless automatically opened to receivedrainage water whenever necessary. As illustrated in Fig. 1 A representsa drainage surface, such as a sloping roof, and B is the eaves trough.The latter is preferably formed with a rectangular cross sectionincluding portions B and B forming a V with the portion B extendingupward beneath the caves and the portion B beyond the same. B is aportion substantially parallel to the portion B extending upward fromthe portion B outside the upper surface of the roof and preferablyterminating in a horizontal flange portion B projecting towards theroof. C is a cover which is hinged at D to the portion B at the juncturebetween the same and the flange B and normally extends horizontallyabove and beyond said flange to close the opening between the same andthe upper inclined surface of the roof. Extending oppositely from thehinge D the cover C has a portion C terminating in a receptacle C forretaining water. Normally when there is no water in the receptacle C thebalance of the cover is such that it will rest upon the roof completelyclosing access to the space within the trough. When, however, water fromthe roof is directed onto the top of the cover it will accumulate in thereceptacle C which will change the balance so that the cover willautomatically open into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. The

opening is sufficient to receive all of the water which ICC 2 will drainfrom the roof and which will be received by the trough to be carriedthereby to a suitably located discharge conduit (not shown).

The trough B may be mounted in the desired relation to the roof bybracket members E which may be formed of pressed sheet metal and includea vertical portion E nailed or otherwise secured to the side F of thebuilding below the eaves, a V-shaped portion E for receiving theportions B and B of the trough and an intermediate connecting portion Ewhich may he ribbed to give the necessary strength. These bracketmembers E at opposite ends of the trough B may form a closure thereforby being provided with V-shaped flanges E The hinge D for the cover Cmay be formed by pins D located at suitably spaced points along theportions B and B of the trough and engaging completely eyes therein andin the cover C.

The construction above described will effectually prevent accumulationin the trough of debris for it avoids any open trap, the cover Cnormally completely enclosing the space within the trough.

What I claim as my invention is: I

1. An eaves trough mounted in relation to a drainage surface to receivewater therefrom, a cover for said trough hinged thereto and balanced tobe normally held in closed position, and a receptacle on said cover foraccumulated water falling or directed thereon located to unbalance andautomatically open the cover for reception by said trough of water fromsaid drainage surface.

2. The construction as in claim 1 in which said cover normally extendsin a substantially horizontal plane and contacts with said drainagesurface.

3. The construction as in claim 2 in which said receptacle is in theportion of said cover on the opposite side of the hinge from the portioncontacting with the drainage surface, said receptacle being oftrough-shape extending the length of the cover.

4. The construction as in claim 2 in which the trough is of rectangularcross section having a V-shaped portion forming the trough proper andwith one flange thereof extending beneath the eaves and'a portionoutside said trough portion over but spaced from the drainage surface towhich said cover is hinged.

5. The construction as in claim 4 in which said trough is supported bybrackets secured to the support for said drainage surface and beneaththe eaves thereof.

6. The construction as in claim 1 in which the movement of the covertowards its open position is restricted so that it is still above thetrough to guard the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS682,420 OConner Sept. 10, 1901 763,188 Kochenderfer June 21, 19041,609,212 Stowers Nov. 30, 1926 2,153,798 Grimes Apr. 11, 1939 2,469,841Ours May 19, 1949 2,625,353 Henry Jan. 13, 1953

